Looking for breakthrough ideas for innovation challenges? Try Patsnap Eureka!

Fuel cell stack

a fuel cell and stack technology, applied in the field of fuel cell stacks, can solve the problems of increasing the cost of fuel cells, and achieve the effect of preventing air retention and easy and reliably discharg

Active Publication Date: 2014-09-30
HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
View PDF8 Cites 3 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a fuel cell stack that can efficiently and reliably discharge air that enters the coolant passages to the outside, while preventing air from remaining in the fuel cell. The stack has a simple and economical structure and can cool the entire power generation surface. The coolant supply and discharge passages are formed across a region that ensures favorable openings and reduces pressure loss. The coolant supply and discharge passages are constructed as rectangular openings with lengths oriented in the long side direction, which allows for shorter separators in the short side direction. The overall power generation surface can be cooled reliably, and air can be easily discharged from the coolant passages.

Problems solved by technology

Such spacers increase the number of parts required from the fuel cell, the fuel cell overall has an increased dimension in the stacking direction, and costs for the fuel cell are increased.

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Fuel cell stack
  • Fuel cell stack
  • Fuel cell stack

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

first embodiment

[0048]As shown in FIG. 1, a fuel cell stack 10 according to the present invention is constituted by fuel cells 12, a plurality of such fuel cells 12 being stacked mutually along a horizontal direction (in the direction of the arrow A).

[0049]On one end in the stacking direction of the fuel cells 12, a first terminal plate 14a, a first insulating plate 16a and a first end plate 18a are stacked thereon, whereas on the other end in the stacking direction, a second terminal plate 14b, a second insulating plate 16b and a second end plate 18b are stacked thereon.

[0050]The first end plate 18a and the second end plate 18b, which are constructed with rectangular shapes, are integrally fastened and retained by a plurality of tie rods 19 extending in the direction indicated by A. The fuel cell stack 10 may be retained integrally by a box shaped casing (not shown), which includes the first end plate 18a and the second end plate 18b serving as respective end plates thereof.

[0051]As shown in FIG. ...

second embodiment

[0088]FIG. 5 is a perspective view with partial omission of a fuel cell stack 70 according to the present invention.

[0089]Structural elements of the second embodiment, which are the same as those of the fuel cell stack 10 according to the first embodiment, are designated by like reference characters and such features shall not be described in detail. Similarly, in the description of the third embodiment or later that follows, detailed explanations of such features are omitted.

[0090]The fuel cell stack 70 is equipped with a first insulating plate 72a and a second insulating plate 72b. In the first insulating plate 72a, a pair of grooves (coolant passage connecting portions) 78a, 78a, which communicate in a vertical direction between the coolant supply passages 30a and the coolant discharge passages 30b, are formed in a surface 76a thereof facing the fuel cell 12.

[0091]Similarly, in a surface 76b of the second insulating plate 72b facing the fuel cell 12, a pair of grooves (coolant pa...

third embodiment

[0093]FIG. 6 is a perspective view with partial omission of a fuel cell stack 90 according to the present invention.

[0094]The fuel cell stack 90 is equipped with at least one separator 92. The separator 92 is constructed substantially in the same manner as the first separator 22 or the second separator 24. For example, the second sealing member 40b provided in the second separator 24 is cut out to form grooves (coolant passage connecting portions) 94 that communicate vertically between the coolant supply passages 30a and the coolant discharge passages 30b. Consequently, with the third embodiment, the same effects as those of the first and second embodiments are attained.

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

PropertyMeasurementUnit
gravityaaaaaaaaaa
dimensionaaaaaaaaaa
pressure lossaaaaaaaaaa
Login to View More

Abstract

Coolant supply passages and coolant discharge passages, for example, two respectively thereof, are disposed on upper and lower side portions of a first end plate of a fuel cell stack. Grooves are formed on a surface of the first end plate for establishing communication between each of the coolant supply passages and the coolant discharge passages. Air, which is introduced upwardly of the coolant discharge passages, is discharged to the coolant supply passages.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Applications No. 2009-134577 filed on Jun. 4, 2009, No. 2009-182516 filed on Aug. 5, 2009, No. 2009-184601 filed on Aug. 7, 2009 and No. 2010-102377 filed on Apr. 27, 2010, of which the contents are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to a fuel cell stack in which electrolyte electrode assemblies and separators are stacked in a horizontal direction. Each of the electrolyte electrode assemblies includes a pair of electrodes and an electrolyte interposed between the electrodes.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]For example, a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell employs an electrolyte membrane (electrolyte). The electrolyte membrane is a polymer ion exchange membrane. The electrolyte membrane is interposed between an anode and a cathode to form a membrane el...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
Patent Type & Authority Patents(United States)
IPC IPC(8): H01M8/04H01M8/02H01M8/10
CPCH01M8/04029H01M8/0258H01M8/04074H01M2008/1095Y02E60/50H01M8/241H01M8/2483H01M8/0267H01M8/2457H01M8/2484H01M8/0271
Inventor NAITO, HIDEHARUKOBAYASHI, NORIHISAYOSHITOMI, RYOICHISAKANO, MASAAKISUDA, KEISUKEWATANABE, YASUHIRO
Owner HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
Who we serve
  • R&D Engineer
  • R&D Manager
  • IP Professional
Why Patsnap Eureka
  • Industry Leading Data Capabilities
  • Powerful AI technology
  • Patent DNA Extraction
Social media
Patsnap Eureka Blog
Learn More
PatSnap group products

Browse by: Latest US Patents, China's latest patents, Technical Efficacy Thesaurus, Application Domain, Technology Topic, Popular Technical Reports.

© 2024 PatSnap. All rights reserved.Legal|Privacy policy|Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement|Sitemap|About US| Contact US: help@patsnap.com